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Research, inclusivity efforts at stake as Oregon college leaders respond to Trump administration orders

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Research, inclusivity efforts at stake as Oregon college leaders respond to Trump administration orders


A pause in federal funds could have a big impact on Oregon State University. OSU received $370 million in federal research grants last year.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Higher education leaders across Oregon are wrapping their heads around the potential impact of a grant funding pause on their institutions and on students.

“Portland Community College does receive a substantial amount of support through the federal government,” said a PCC spokesperson on Tuesday. “We are currently trying to determine the full gravity of the recent actions and executive orders issued by the administration and potential impacts on our students, programs and college.”

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PCC is Oregon’s largest higher education institution.

While the freeze on federal funding is now in doubt, following a judge’s temporary order out of Washington, D.C., higher education leaders are looking closely at President Trump’s latest actions to see how their institutions might be affected. The freeze on funding was intended to stop the flow of federal dollars while agencies could review how those streams align with executive orders Trump signed governing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and the administration’s other policy targets.

“We will continue actively assessing any impact that federal actions have on Oregonians served by the postsecondary education and training system,” said a spokesperson with Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission. “The HECC continues in our mission and commitment to advance equitable access to and success in postsecondary education and training for all Oregonians.”

Federal funding for research projects is a particular worry for the state’s larger public universities, which receive millions of dollars in federal research funding each year.

“We’re looking closely at each executive order and agency request to understand the potential impacts on the groundbreaking research conducted by our faculty,” said a University of Oregon spokesperson in a statement.

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In response to the memo, Portland State University is advising students and faculty involved in federal research to be more mindful with their grant spending.

“For students and employees working on federally funded research grants, we’re asking leaders to prioritize people and temporarily suspend their non-personnel spending and other grant related costs,” said PSU President Ann Cudd in a letter to the campus community.

Oregon State University is among the biggest recipients of federal research funding in the state. The university was awarded $370 million in federal grants last school year. A letter sent to OSU’s community from its Office of Research and Innovation on Tuesday said the university is reviewing the White House executive actions and providing guidance to campus stakeholders.

“Given Oregon State’s reputation and preeminent status as an institution dedicated to advancing research of utmost importance to the state, the nation and the world, even a temporary pause on the issuance of new awards and on the disbursement of federal funds for open awards has broad impacts across the university,” read the statement.

The U.S. Department of Education released guidance on Tuesday, saying the order would not apply to federal financial aid for students.

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It’s still unclear if federally funded student success programs would be impacted. Many of those programs focus on students of color, and students from low-income backgrounds or those who are the first in their families to attend college. Officials anticipate pulling the plug on the programs could have a negative effect on Oregon’s future workforce.

“Oregon’s community colleges are on the frontline for workforce and economic development,” said Abby Lee, executive director of the Oregon Community College Association. “Our focus today and every day is to ensure Oregonians continue to have access to the affordable degrees, certificates, training, and employment opportunities Oregon’s colleges provide.”



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Ice storm warning issued for Eugene, much of Oregon’s Willamette Valley

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Ice storm warning issued for Eugene, much of Oregon’s Willamette Valley


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  • The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for parts of Oregon due to freezing rain and snow.
  • Utility companies are preparing for potential power outages and advising residents to take safety precautions.
  • The Oregon Department of Transportation is urging drivers to stay home if possible and to be prepared for hazardous road conditions.
  • A cold weather advisory is also in effect, with temperatures expected to feel as low as 10 to 20 degrees.

The National Weather Service has issued an ice storm warning for the southern and central Willamette Valley for freezing rain and snow that could disrupt work, school and travel on Thursday and Friday.

Power outages appeared increasingly likely, with local officials in and around Eugene issuing a variety of warnings and alerts as they geared up for potential disruptions.

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The warning was set for 10 p.m. Wednesday to 4 a.m. Friday. While the greatest impact was expected between Salem and Portland, alerts have been sounding off across Lane County as well.

“Significant icing expected,” wrote the National Weather Service. “Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous.”

The National Weather Service in Portland forecast upward of a quarter- to half-inch of ice in the Corvallis-Albany area and up to a quarter-inch in the Salem, Eugene and Portland areas.

Eugene to Salem: Winter storm watch issued

The ice storm warning runs from roughly Cottage Grove up to Oregon City in the Willamette Valley, and out into the Coast Range and Cascade Foothills.

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In general, the more northerly areas around Salem were expected to see the greatest impact. It was expected to get warmer sooner in Eugene.

“Winter precipitation is expected to begin Wednesday night, starting in the south and pushing northward,” NWS wrote. “Precipitation will initially begin as mixed freezing rain and snow Wednesday night, transitioning over primarily to freezing rain on Thursday. Significant ice accumulations will be possible, impacting the Thursday morning commute.

“Precipitation will transition over to primarily freezing rain by Thursday midday. Due to areas of freezing rain, power outages are possible.”

Travel could become extremely hazardous if the ice does show up.

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“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous,” NWS wrote.

Eugene-Springfield utility providers prepare

Eugene Water & Electric Board said crews were “preparing for any possible outages” Wednesday.

Forecasts say the storm will be milder than the 2024 ice storm when a total of 38,000 EWEB customers lost power at some point. EWEB advised community members to use caution in the case of ice damage to equipment or downed power lines.

“Always assume the line is energized and stay at least 50 feet away,” EWEB stated in a news release Wednesday. “If the downed line is across a street or sidewalk, call 911. Remember to stop and observe to survive.”

EWEB’s outage map can be found at www.eweb.org/outages-and-safety/power-outages/power-outage-map.

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Springfield Utility Board also recorded preparations and preventative measures following the 2024 storm.

According to its After Ice Storm Action Report, SUB staff have undergone the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Incident Command Structure training in the case of another devastating storm. SUB reported 88 poles damaged and 75% of its customers had lost power at some point during the storm.

Information on SUB outages can be found at www.subutil.com/outages.

Oregon Department of Transportation braces for ice

Oregon Department of Transportation stated its crews have been working around the clock in preparation for icy weather. Starting Wednesday evening, ODOT began pretreating roads with deicer.

“We are prepared for whatever conditions happen this week and beyond and our crews will work around the clock to make the roads as safe as possible,” ODOT stated via email. “It’s crucial to remember that freezing rain poses the most significant challenge for road crews. Falling trees, limbs and downed powerlines further complicate our response efforts and can significantly impact our response times.”

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How to travel in snowy or icy conditions if needed

First, ODOT recommends residents to stay home if they don’t need to go out in icy weather. ODOT advised commuters to expect the unexpected, as road conditions could change throughout the day.

Bridges and overpasses are the most dangerous parts of the road in the winter, according to ODOT, as they are the first to freeze and last to thaw.

ODOT provided additional tips on staying safe while driving:

  • Check conditions at TripCheck.com before heading out for road closures and conditions.
  • Slow down and increase following distance. Bridges and shaded areas freeze first.
  • Ensure your vehicle is winter-ready — tires, brakes and wipers in good condition.
  • Stay visible by using headlights and clearing snow from windows.
  • Follow roadside message signs for important updates.
  • Use public transit if possible, and check schedules in advance.
  • Never pass snowplows on the right — give them space to work.
  • If you abandon your vehicle, it will be towed. Stay with your car if safe to do so.

Cold weather advisory issued for Willamette Valley

A cold weather advisory remained in place across the Willamette Valley into Thursday for temperatures that feel as cold as 10 to 20 degrees.

“Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures,” NWS said.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.

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Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.





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Shelstad's career-high 26 points helps Oregon fend off Northwestern comeback attempt 81-75

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Shelstad's career-high 26 points helps Oregon fend off Northwestern comeback attempt 81-75


EUGENE, Ore. — – Jackson Shelstad scored a career-high 26 points and Oregon ended its five-game losing streak by holding off Northwestern 81-75 on Tuesday night.

Keeshawn Barthelemy scored 19 points and Nate Bittle scored 14 points for Oregon.

Ty Berry scored 23 points shooting 8 for 10, reserve K.J. Windham scored 20 points and Nick Martinelli 16 for Northwestern, which out shot Oregon 51.7% to 47.1%.

Windham’s 3-pointer got the Wildcats within 64-54 with 7:30 left and they continued to chip away at Oregon’s lead. Northwestern got within five points on multiple occasions but never got closer. Oregon finished 10 for 10 from the foul line in the final two-and-a-half minutes and were 25 for 28 (89.3%) overall.

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Windham’s 3-pointer put Northwestern ahead 14-13 with 11:44 left before halftime to mark the Wildcats’ last lead. Shelstad and Barthelemy each followed with a 3 and Oregon went on to outscore Northwestern over the next eight minutes.

Northwestern’s Berry made a 3 with 48 seconds left before halftime and the points were the only scored by the Wildcats in the last four-and-a-half minutes before the break and Oregon led 39-25 at halftime.

The Ducks (17-8, 6-8) shot 15 for 30 in the first half including 5 for 12 (41.7%) from 3.

Northwestern (13-12, 4-10), which has lost five of its last six, hosts Nebraska on Sunday.

Oregon hosts Rutgers on Sunday.

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Oregon Department of Justice sues over cuts to medical research funding

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Oregon Department of Justice sues over cuts to medical research funding


A federal judge granted a temporary restraining order hours after Oregon and 21 other states sued the Trump administration Monday over a cap the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set on funding for research overhead, saying it would cut billions of dollars from valuable medical studies.

The dispute is over a 15% cap the department and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) adopted Feb. 7 for what are called “indirect costs” for research. The funding category covers laboratory space, faculty, equipment and utilities.

The temporary restraining order stops funding cuts in the states that sued. It also requires reports showing the full grants are being distributed. A hearing is scheduled Feb. 21.

“Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), University of Oregon, and Oregon State University, received more than $400 million in NIH grant awards in recent years,” the lawsuit said.

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“President Trump’s disdain for science has been long evident, but these cuts represent a dangerous culmination of years of undermining trusted public health expertise,” said Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield. “It is clear this administration has no concern for the well-being of Americans, especially those who rely on this research to improve their quality of life and protect their health.”

Trump, Musk look to cut federal spending

The Trump administration, and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, is searching for ways to cut trillions of dollars in federal spending. A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked the department from accessing government payment processing systems in response to a suit from Oregon and 18 other states.

NIH said in a post on the social media site X that $9 billion of the $35 billion it granted last year for research was used for administrative overhead. The goal of the policy capping overhead at 15% is to save $4 billion per year.

The Oregon Department of Justice also filed a lawsuit last week over an executive order that directs the federal government not to help with gender transitions for individuals under the age of 19.

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How much do Oregon universities get in federal medical research funding?

OHSU received $277 million in NIH funding last year, including indirect costs, a spokesperson said. Those indirect costs went toward things like utilities and facilities.

The University of Oregon received about $162 million in research funding from federal sources for fiscal year 2024. NIH funds made up about $56.7 million, or around 35%, of the federal funding.

“The bottom line is that university research is absolutely critical to our society and to the economy — not for any one group but for everyone,” said Anshuman “AR” Razdan, the University of Oregon’s vice president for research and innovation.

Oregon State University spokesperson Rob Odom said NIH is a valued research partner and any “across-the-board reduction in funding threatens research advances of the utmost importance to Oregon, the nation and the world.”

USA TODAY contributed to this story.

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Anastasia Mason covers state government for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at acmason@statesmanjournal.com or 971-208-5615.



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